UN FAO officials agree with proposals for uplift of the tea sector, President Fazal Moqeem shares valuable inputs on development agribusiness in KP
PESHAWAR
Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) will frame a working plan and strategy for commercialization of the tea sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
This was decided during a meeting of a team of UN FAO led by its Head for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ms Kiyal with Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Fazal Moqeem Khan here at the chamber house on Saturday.
Mr John Snell, International Tea Export, UN FAO, Muhammad Khurshid, National Consultant – Tea Policy and Farrukh Siyar Hamid, National Consultant – Tea Technical Export FAO were amongst Ms Kiyal team.
On the occasion SCCI executive member and Central Executive Committee of Pakistan Tea Association member Ashfaq Ahmad and businessmen and dealers associated with tea sector, the chamber’s executive member Safiullah Khan, Secretary General Muqtasid Ahsan, Senior Manager R&D Sohail Anjum and others were present.
Meeting discussed prospects of tea cultivation, improving yield and commercialization of this important sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Tea traders and importers raised issues, particularly relating to production, processing, and enhancing good quality yield, along with lack of expertise, training/capacity building of the farming community attached with the tea sector, etc.
They stressed the need for taking pragmatic steps to address all these problems to boost the sector in K-P.
Tea traders and importers also suggested the government should take tangible measures for regulating this important sector.
SCCI President Fazal Moqeem Khan shared valuable inputs for improving cultivation of various crops and fruits.
He called for technical and financial support to the farming community, especially to businessmen and importers associated with the tea sector.
Earlier, in her opening remarks, Head of UN FAO for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ms Kiyal, informed that her organization is working on commercializing the tea sector.
She elaborated that FAO focused subsector for agribusiness in the agriculture sector are horticulture, crop production, livestock, forestry, apiculture and floriculture.
Muhammad Khurshid and Farrukh Siyar Hamid from UN FAO agreed with proposals of the meeting and emphasized that SCCI should frame a holistic working plan for commercialization of the tea sector.
Senior officials assured SCCI that the recommendations would take up relevant authorities, particularly relating to regulating the tea sector.
Both sides have pledged to continue support for uplift of the agriculture and horticulture sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
